One of my favorite movies of 2019, Little Women is Greta Gerwig’s fresh take on Louisa May Alcott’s storied classic. Starring the incredible ensemble cast of Saoirse Ronan, Florence Pugh, Emma Watson, Timothee Chalamet, Laura Dern, Bob Odenkirk, and Meryl Streep, this beautiful remake does not disappoint. Starting this week, it’s available to rent on Sling.

A timeless, cherished story, we already know that it works - an honest, poignant portrayal of adolescence for women. In case you were out sick when it was assigned in school, Little Women has a simple, episodic plot: the four March sisters navigate growing up during the Civil War era, often through humor and heartbreak. They’re all at different points in their lives, each with their own set of trials and tribulations.

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The cast features some of Gerwig’s favorite collaborators (Ronan and Chalamet, who flashed great chemistry in Lady Bird) and includes some new stars, as well. Florence Pugh is quickly becoming one of my favorite actresses, and her performance here deservedly earned her a Best Supporting Actress nomination at the Oscars. Surprisingly, three of the four actresses that play the March sisters aren’t even American (Ronan, Pugh, and Watson) which wouldn’t be strikingly obvious to viewers (except Watson... sorry, but that accent still needs some work).

Nominated for a total of six Oscars, Little Women took home the award for Best Costume Design. While other categories had some serious heavyweight winners, I think Gerwig was robbed for a Best Adapted Screenplay nomination (and perhaps Best Director as well). Gerwig’s script is ingeniously unique, flipping from the present to the past to create a layered, non-linear story unlike any of its predecessors, or the original novel.

Whether you’re familiar with the story or not (and don't feel bad - I hadn’t read the book or seen the 1994 film adaptation), Gerwig’s take is distinctive enough to stand on its own. We see the raw impact of the decisions each sister makes over the years, often contrasted side-by-side with their mentality at the time they made their choice. Atestament to Gerwig’s writing and directing abilities, this device made me introspective about the choices I’ve made, even prompting a philosophical tangent about how much influence any of us have over the direction our lives take.

For me, the thought-provoking ending is one of the most fascinating I can remember in recent years. Without spoiling it, viewers are certain to feel all types of ways, as we see if the story strays from its source material. Will Jo stay true to her adamant proclimations about remaining independent, or will she find love that makes her reconsider her past beliefs? You’ll have to rent Little Women to find out.

Little Women is now available to rent for a one-time purchase of $5.99.